All leica lens are expensive. Instead of buying 2 or 3 Voigtlander cheap ones, start with one leica (summicron 35 2.0 $2700 used, or summicron 50 2.0 $1750 used.
princekiska wrote:
I am very new to M-9 which I got last night
Now I need you guys advice on at least couple of lenses (not very expansive)
Landscape,some portraits,weddings events,interior shots
Thank you so much
I love this site
princekiska wrote:
I am very new to M-9 which I got last night
Now I need you guys advice on at least couple of lenses (not very expansive)
Landscape,some portraits,weddings events,interior shots
Thank you so much
I love this site
I would recommend to start with Zeiss ZM 50/2 Planar and/or Zeiss ZM 35/2 Biogon. These are as good as Leica M lenses in terms of optical performance but with much lower cost.
Do I need to have a tripod for this camera too or I can handhold below 1/30?
Thank you for recommendations
I have no lenses to try it but I am still not sure if my decision buying leica
I was getting D4 and somehow or maybe this forum I got M-9
Ocean, very nice shots! The 28 Cron is a definite favourite
Paul, nice moody sunset
dgenx24, love shots #2, 3 and 4. Very nice
Doug, really like #2!
Prince, congrats on the M9! Technique and practice is everything with M9, and for low shutter speeds, set the shutter to "disc and soft". Calm you body, breathe in, steady, and then gently apply pressure to the shutter. I have found for night shots, I can get away with 1/15s, even 1/8s, depending on the lens. Your chances of keepers is less, but it can be minimised. I much prefer to travel without a tripod, so is it great to try different techniques. As compared to a DSLR, I found I had to be at least 1.5 to 2 times the FL to make there was no camera shake.
princekiska - I shoot with D700s, D800s and D4 cameras.. The Leica is nice and small, and since it's essentially a full manual camera, it makes taking pictures fun but frustrating (and since it's a completely different platform, it doesn't feel like I'm working when I use it). Don't get my wrong the D4 is FANTASTIC, but big n heavy!
The M9, I treat it more as a hand held "shoot what you can" kinda no frills camera. But If you're really into landscapes or long exposure night shoots etc, you'll need a tripod (the gitzo traveler is a lightweight small option).
As far as lenses are concern. The ZM line is great If you don't want to spend money. Though I'd suggest you probably pick either 35mm or 50mm focal length, and if you have the funds get a used summicron (newest version), use it continuously for a while before buying something else. Looking back at my M9 photos from past M9s and M8s that I had, the 50 summicron was the lens I used for most of my favorite shots (on both the M8 and M9s).
Every time I get myself a M9 I buy a bunch of lenses, get overwhelmed and then don't ever shoot with it. This time around I have a 35summilux and 75summarit and am going to keep it that way for a couple of months.. So again, I suggest you don't go and buy yourself a bunch of CV or ZM because they're cheaper. Instead of two ZM get one Leica, and just use it for a while till you get really use to it, and the M9.
Anyway, hope this helps!
Best,
Adam
P.S. Initial shots with the 35lux ASPH and 75 summarit (came today) look really good. I'm really quite happy with the quality of the 75summarit.
I'll share some ASAP, only really got to take a few shots around a hotel (searching for a new wedding venue, as the old one didn't work out). It was raining most of the day as well
Ocean, The cliff shot is beautiful.
Paul, That is very nice image. I like the composition.
dgenx24, the whole set is beautiful, I especially like the first one with yellow cab and last one with 28mm T/S shot.
princekiska, pick yourself a 50 or 35mm Cron or Zeiss planar depend on your focal length preference and budget to see how you like the rangefinder system. After that, you can decide how you want expand your system. I'd against 50lux for its price before you are serious, especially the 2nd hand market are drop right now, you no longer can buy it, try it and use it and then sell it for no loss.
telluridestock, the 2nd is a hardcore street. very nice.
Charles, That is what this lens build for. like a fairy tale.
I haven't use my Sonnar for a while. Recent another post about Leica M 50 lens choice make me want verify my thought about this little lens. I bring my M9 and Sonnar with my family to local park. Again, it doesn't disappoint me. For MFD or close MFD, I compensate it with my experience, I hardly mis-focus. For 3M and above, either WO or f2.8, there is no need for compensation. And again, It is sharp enough WO. And I know what I am talking about Every leica lens deserve its owner attention how to use it, especially for lens have focus shift or the system not calibrated to its optimization for three or more lens kit. IMHO.
Adam and Michael, thanks guys
Michael, beautiful shots of your son! Love them The ZM 50/1.5 Sonnar is a wonderful lens, even with its focus shifts attributes.
Prince, first choice would be a 35 or 50 FL to begin with and just have some fun Preferably a f/2 version, as they don't tend to be as critical to calibrate or focus with. Good Luck!
zhangyue - Yes the 50 Sonnar is great, but when I owned it, I always had trouble with the focusing (focus shift) on anything other then 1.5 which in itself was hard to nail being so narrow DOF..
It's been bad weather this weekend, no chance to shoot. I'm going to take a trip to the zoo with the 75mm on Tuesday if it's sunny out.
Michael, I always enjoy your photos of your children. You really master the technique of using your ZM Sonnar 1.5. I had similar experience like what Adam just described in the above post. After I used the lens for a while with a M8, I sold the Sonnar. It is your images of your children made me thinking about give the lens another try for it's unique signatures.
Thank you Charles, Ocean, Adam.
I am trying to offer different opinion about that lens.
The focus shift is really easy to compensate. you can master it very quick once you know how to do it. The color out of it is very good, typical Zeiss. Bokeh at WO and close to MFD is painting like, busier than Lux, which is very smooth, (Almost too smooth some cases). My original plan is to sell the sonnar once get 50lux, but I just can't, they are very different lens. From optical performance of view, no question, 50lux is better. From picture/end results point of view, Sonnar is really lack nothing, especially for portrait from f1.5 to f2.8, the lens different rendering changing with aperture just deliver.
Charles, the shot is amazing quality! very 3D
zhangyue, thanks for the cmmt! I'm enjoying your photos as well.
AshNZ wrote:
dgenx24 - love your photo's
In addition to the cool content, the colors and sharpness are great. What is your PP workflow? (just the outline/basics)
Ash
Ash, thanks for the cmmt.
well, my work flow is not too special. I guess it's all depends on personal preference.
The lens are sharp to begin with especially the 75 summarit but all above shots were taken at f8 or 11 for maximum sharpness.
I use LR3 now LR4 and only do raw.
My favorite tool is the 'fill light' (shadow in LR4), I try not to have too much black overall to brighten up the whole scene, I guess that helps bring out more colors.
And I also use clarity and contrast. and finally, vibrance if needed.
It's Canada Day, so gotta head out for the fireworks, but in the meantime, just got back from downtown where a relatively small but very exuberant group of Spain fans were celebrating today's win over Italy. I was rooting for Italy, after they beat Germany, and it would have been chaos downtown with thousands of Italy fans celebrating (would have been cool for photos)... but it was still fun to see..
These are SOOC, will update when I have more time:
M9 & 21 Lux... could have used even wider, but didn't bring the CV12...
Charles - gorgeous photo! The noct works superb for this shot.
Michael - great work as usual. I love the look of the Sonnar...
Ron - very nice Canada Day pics. Happy belated Canada Day!
Dgenx24 and Gary, thank you guys
Ron, very nice captures!
Michael, beautiful pensive portrait!
Gary, very cool shots
Ron and Gary, congrats on Canadian day!!!
